Am I deceived?

John 7:1–13 ESV

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

How deceived are you? This is a very tough question and why is that? Because if you are deceived you don’t know that you are deceived! And if you aren’t careful you can steer into the ditch on either side of the road where you think that you already know the truth and will not listen to anything that is different than what you have always believed and the other ditch is

Ephesians 4:14 ESV

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Hebrews 13:9 ESV

9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

So deception is a real threat. I want us this morning to observe just how deceitful our hearts are.

John 7:3–5 ESV

3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him.

Why did the Pharisees hate Jesus?

John 7:7 ESV

7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

1 Kings 22:18 ESV

18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

If we combine the message from a few weeks ago with today’s message we see two different responses to the flesh. The people who followed Jesus for the miracles wanted what?

John 6:15 ESV

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

The flesh today wants to “accept” Jesus and then live however it wants. Right? We want to ignore the Word (Hold up Bible) and live how ever you want. Do you see how this is no different than them wanting to make Jesus king? They only wanted Jesus to be king for their own benefit. They were not interested in following Jesus.

The same reason they wanted Jesus to be king. Not because they had a heart to follow God, because they would have asked Jesus what they were called to do instead of making Jesus king of Israel they would have made Jesus king of their hearts AMEN?

And finally, in the flesh what do people conclude about Jesus?

John 7:12 ESV

12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.”

Because remember the truth from chapter 6

John 6:41–44 ESV

41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

John 6:63 ESV

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

If what I say week after week makes no sense this whole spirit and flesh talk Pray that God would reveal truth. Pray God would reveal Himself to you. If you earnestly seek Him He will not turn you away!

If we are not walking in the fulness of the Holy Spirit, we are in bondage to something.

My gluttony.